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Maintaining friendships and other social connections can be vital to keeping your brain in shape as you age. A large new study suggests that older people who are more isolated are at greater risk of brain shrinkage – especially in areas of the brain linked to dementia – compared to those who have more frequent social interactions.
“Social isolation is a growing problem for older people,” said the study’s author. Toshiharu Ninomiya, MD, Ph.D.from Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, in a statement. “These findings suggest that providing support to people to help them establish and maintain relationships with others may be beneficial in preventing brain atrophy and the development of dementia.”
The analysis involved approximately 9,000 dementia-free Japanese adults aged 65 and older. About 57 percent were women and the average age was 73. All participants underwent MRI scans and had a full health check.
Dr. Ninomiya and his collaborators determined the frequency of each person’s social interactions by asking a single question: how often are you in contact with relatives or friends who do not live with you (for example, by meeting them or talking to them on the phone)? Response choices were daily, several times a week, several times a month, or rarely.
Published on July 12 in the magazine Neurology, the results showed that the total brain volume (the sum of gray matter and white matter) was 67.3% in those with the least contact, compared to 67.8% in the group with the most contacts. Those who had fewer social interactions and connections had lower volumes in brain areas such as the hippocampus and amygdala, which play a role in memory and are affected by dementia.
The study authors also found that the volume of white matter lesions increased significantly with less frequent social contact – 0.30% in the lowest frequency group versus 0.26% in the lower frequency group. highest frequency.
Previous search linked white matter damage to a higher risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, depression and stroke.
Depression can contribute to a “vicious cycle” of isolation
The investigation team noted that symptoms of depression partly explained the relationship between social isolation and brain volumes. These symptoms of depression, however, accounted for only 15-29% of the association.
Always, Howard Fillit, MDco-founder and scientific director of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundationpoints out that depression can fuel a downward spiral in isolation.
“People who are socially isolated can become depressed and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease is associated with depression 30-40% of the time,” says Dr. Fillit, who was not involved in the study. “Cognitive decline can then lead to more isolation and depression. It’s a vicious circle.”
How Loneliness Can Cause Physical Damage
Isolation can cause damage to health that goes beyond the brain. THE National Council on Aging warns that loneliness can increase the risk of high blood pressureheart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety and death.
Previous research indicates that loneliness can contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress, which in turn can affect blood vessels. Joel Salinas, MD, a clinical assistant professor of neurology at NYU Langone Health in New York City, points out that this effect on blood vessels may also cause the brain to shrink. Dr. Salinas, who was not involved in this study, is also the chief medical officer of Isaac’s Healtha home memory clinic for brain health and memory issues in New York City.
The authors point out that the study does not prove that social isolation causes brain shrinkage; it only shows an association. They also point out that the survey was limited to older Japanese only, so the results may not be generalizable to people of other ethnicities or younger people.
“Although this study is a snapshot in time and does not determine that social isolation causes brain atrophy, some studies have shown that exposure of older adults to socially stimulating groups halted or even reversed the decline in brain volume. and improved thinking and memory skills, so it is possible that interventions aimed at improving people’s social isolation could prevent brain volume loss and the dementia that often ensues,” Ninomiya said.
How Older People Can Connect to Maintain the Brain
Older people frequently experience feelings of loneliness and social isolation, according to Mirnova E. Ceide, MDAssociate Professor of Geriatric Psychiatry and Geriatrics and Associate Director of Psychiatry at Montefiore Center for the Aging Brain in Yonkers, New York.
“We see up to 40% of older people in social isolation,” says Dr Ceide, who did not contribute to the article. “Essentially, when you’re socially isolated, you don’t stimulate your brain, and like any type of organism, it needs stimulation. We see the brain acting differently when you don’t get that stimulation you would normally get from interacting with people on a regular basis. It’s a “use it or lose it” situation.
It can be harder to meet new people as we get older, but Ceide urges seniors to be proactive about developing and maintaining relationships. She often advises her patients to contact their state Department of Aging, which usually has contact information for senior centers and other local organizations that work with seniors and run group events, outings and classes. . Federal management Elder Care Locator offers a similar directory, linking the public to services for older people and their families.
THE National Institute of Aging encourages seniors to explore activities such as:
- Play cards
- Group travel
- Video chats with your friends and family
- Try new restaurants
- Take up a group hobby like knitting, birdwatching, and painting
- Reconnect with old friends through your high school or college alumni association
of his researchSalinas observed that simply having someone available most or all of the time who you can rely on to listen to you when you need to talk is associated with greater cognitive ability. resilience.
It is also good to consider your hobbies. “It’s really great to find groups of people who have similar interests because it helps increase the likelihood that you’ll make a reciprocal connection with someone,” he says.
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